Reducing pre-weaning mortality rates begins with sow management
Adequate gestation length and management promotes long-term pig health.
Page 30 of articles about sow
What do I do with this census?
In previous articles we have talked about the importance of a good sow replacement, and we have explained methods to calculate an adequate sow replacement rate. In this article we are going to show an example of a bad replacement policy and its consequences throughout time on the productivity of the farm.
Transfers of piglets until the 3rd-4th day after their birth
When there are not enough teats, the strongest piglet always occupies the place of the weak one, that is left without milk to suckle.
I'm missing weaned piglets/sow: Why?
Normally, when we ask a farmer which is their average number of weaned piglets per sow they normally know this parameter, because its calculation is easy, nevertheless...
Nests for piglets in the farrowing quarters
The aim of this trick is the improvement of the quality of the environment in the farrowing quarters for the sows as well as for the piglets, saving on energy consumption by means of the manufacturing of nests.
Group planning for group housing
Put 160 focussed pork producers, advisors, equipment manufacturers and researchers together for a total of three days to discuss improving sow welfare with group housing systems and you’ll generate varied views, some challenges and maybe some solutions.
Canada: scientists seek strategies for early detection and prevention of lameness of sows
Research examining the factors affecting the productivity of group housed sows will assist Canada's pork producers as they consider the switch to group sow housing systems.
Seasonal effects (temperature and light): analysis and minimization of their consequences
It is a widely documented fact that pig production has seasonal variations mainly focused on a descent in the reproductive efficiency in the gestation phase (difficulty in the coming into oestrus, a higher number of reproductive failures) during the summer and autumn months.
European sow stall ban: 18 countries say they will be ready for the new legislation
In mid-June, the EU Commission announced that 18 Member States had confirmed that they expected all of their remaining pig breeders to be compliant with the new regulations by 1 January 2013.
Space allowance for gestating sows in pens: Behavior and immunity
Different floor space allowances for dry, pregnant sows in pens were evaluated to determine the impacts of space on sow behavior, immune, and cortisol measures.
Using flank to flank measurement to predict sow body weight
To accurately predict sow body weight by using their flank to flank measurement in order to determine daily feed intake or accurate medication dose.
Order when entering the sows from the pregnancy to the farrowing quarters in big farms
In the previous piece of advice we saw that in small farms it could be interesting to maintain a certain order when entering the sows in the farrowing quarters depending on their parturition. Nevertheless, in big farms or in farms that group together many farrowings at the same time we will have to think about the order in another way, because if the farrowing quarters are not very big we will have the same batch of sows housed in several rooms.
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NewsNew tool predicts piglet’s nursing ability
The immunocrit, which measures newborn piglet serum immunoglobulin, is simple, inexpensive, rapid, and accurate.
Spain: new provisions for the adaptation of pig farms to welfare legislation
The conditions to be met by producers who have not completed the process of adapting to the new regulations for accomodating breeder sows are established.
Limited and excess protein intake of pregnant gilts affects body composition and newborn and weanling development in piglets
Dietary protein level during pregnancy may affect fetal and piglet development.
Food comes from farms: sows
This episode of Food Comes from Farms shows how family famers provide a humane housing and care for sows.